You promote a super competent PM into a senior role (Project Executive) with people reporting to him and he struggles to build and lead a team.
In construction, it happens all the time.
90 days later he’s sitting in your office, frustrated, teetering on the brink of asking you to put him back into project management, back to his comfort zone.
You’re tempted to do it.
You hate seeing him fail, and you don’t want him to quit and go to your competition.
You picked him for the leadership role because his technical skills earned the respect of his peers.
He’s capable and hard working, and not use to failure.
Now he needs to be patient, and go through the slow progress of learning to lead.
Good things take time. It’s a lesson I’ve learned in my own business…
In 2004, I began selling a leadership program, and one of my clients was Quincy Engineering, led by President John Quincy.
When I started my own coaching business in 2013, Quincy Engineering was one of my first stops as I went around town hustling up business.
John greeted me in the lobby, with a big smile and a book in his hand. He said, “Eric, we were just talking about you, can you facilitate a workshop for us based on this book?”
The book was “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni. I had never read the book, but having just started my business, I needed some clients, so of course I said “Yes!”.
I devoured the book (highly recommend), and delivered the workshop. John and his team got a ton of value from it.
From there I slowly started to build my reputation helping construction companies with their leadership challenges.
Fast forward over a decade, and now, my book Construction Genius: The One Book Every Construction Leader MUST Read has been published and is having a tremendous positive impact.
Early this week, I was surfing LinkedIn, and came across this post.
You’ll see that my book, Construction Genius, is mentioned along with some classics from business coaching legends, Gino Wickman, Dan Sullivan, and Patrick Lencioni. 🤯
What’s the lesson here? Progress is tough to make in one or two years. Instead, pick a ten-year time frame. In a decade you can accomplish a ton.
I went from a first-time business owner, hustling to land clients, using other people’s books, to publishing my own book packed with effective, hands-on, practical, simple, no-BS leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice specifically for construction companies.
It’s gratifying to look back and see the progress I’ve made.
Back to you and your struggling Project Exec. Instead of putting him back as a PM, tell him:
“Don’t get discouraged if your progress is slow. Be persistent. Trust your PMs, delegate, hold them accountable, have the tough conversations if necessary, and don’t give up. The more reps you get the easier leadership will become.”
Let them know you have their back and your vote of confidence.
Here’s to progress!
Buy my book, click this link.
If you buy 10+ copies of the book, contact me and I’ll provide you and your leadership team with a one-hour Q&A and leadership training session, via Zoom.
I’d normally charge $2500 for a session like this, and all it will cost you is $19.99 per book. Great deal!
